Parliament passes 10% quota bill for economically backward

The upper house of the Indian parliament on Wednesday passed a constitutional amendment bill that provides for 10 per cent reservation to economically weaker sections in the general category in government jobs and education.

While 165 Rajya Sabha members voted in favour, 7 voted against the bill, which had been approved by the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

After getting ratified by half the state assemblies, the law will come into effect.

The government, which claims that the bill provides equal opportunity to economically backwards people in the general category, had extended the proceeding of the house, which was to end on Tuesday, to pass the bill.